The stricken multipurpose vessel Purple Beach, whose cargo of fertiliser caught fire in one of its holds in the German Bay last week, has been granted refuge in Wilhelmshaven, the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said last night.
The owner of the 33,772 dwt vessel, Hamburg-based liner operator MACS, is reported to have commissioned a salvage company for towage, which is expected to start today.
The fire has meanwhile been contained by flooding the cargo hold.
A salvage team was able to go on board the Purple Beach yesterday to inspect the engine room, deckhouse, and the cargo, the central command said. The vessel, which is carrying 20,000 tonnes of fertiliser (‘Nitrophoska’), was bound for the port of Brake on the river when the fire broke out.
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.